Adil Najam
Just got hold of a list of major media appearances that Gen. Pervez Musharraf will be making as part of his book tour to promote In The Line of Fire: A Memoir. The book is publsihed by Simon and Schuster which will be handing much of the book tour, although it is clear that he will be asked about and will speak about much more than just the book.
(BTW, there is also a White House meeting with President Bush on Friday; so Gen. Musharraf will remain busy).
ATP had alreday written about the general’s appearance on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, and we have a ccurrently ongoing ATP Poll on Grading Gen. Musharraf’s Performance in office. I am sure there will be other appearances too, but here is a list of the key ones.
Sept. 24: 60 Minutes
Sept. 25: NBC’s Today Show
Sept. 26: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Sept. 27: NPR’s Morning Edition
Oct. 1: NBC’s Meet The Press
Although there are always surprises, those familiar with the US media landscape would agree that one could express the toughest questions on Meet The Press with Tim Russert and The Dialy Show with Jon Stewart. The Today Show and Morning Edition appearances are more likely to focus on the ’softer’ and more personal questions. 60 Minutes can go eitehr way, depending on who is interviewing him, but is likely to be a mix of personal and political issues.
Also heard on the internet that the ghost writer for the book is Humayun Gauhar. I am not at all sure if this is true or not. If this is, in fact, true that would be something. Humayun Gauhar is another ‘PR maven’, and son of Ayub Khan’s media guru, Altaf Gauhar. Reportedly, Ayub Khan’s biography, Friends, Not Masters, was ghost-written by Altaf Gauhar.
If true, the coincidence and the connection would be just a little too perfect. Which is why I remain skeptical about the authenticity of this rumor. Readers, does anyone have a sense if this is true or not?
Video clips (in three parts) of Bush-Musharraf press conference at the White House on Sept. 22:
PatExpat, Mast Qalandar
I think we are referring to 2 different issues at hand 1) Mushrraf publishing his book 2) his media blitz while in the USA. Although I agree his media coverage focused on his book, but like I stated earlier his appearances in several prime shows in the usa is overall a positive for us Pakistanis irrespective of Pakistani American or not. If you reside in the USA you will get a better sense of how in present day Pakistan is being portrayed in the media, synonymous to being extremists, osama supporters even though we are US’ key ally in this war. This perception of Pakistan although inaccurate continues to be shared among the average American and it is not till Mushrraf’s visit and his media blitz that the average American got to see a different angle towards Pakistan. Hence, my comments, this is not to say, that I support Mushrraf’s book, but rather his bold handling of journalists as well as approach to being invited to all mainstream shows, which cover most demographics.
In a country, where the driving force to alter public opinion drives from the media, it is nice to see Mushrraf represent Pakistan and provide some fact time to provide some a different point of view on our stance and perspective on the War on Terror.
And with media playing such a key role, it is not “how desperate we are” to see positive press , but to see some objectivity in journalism here, which has nowadays really been flooded to echo one point of view.
Hassaan Qureshi,
Heroes, in all cultures, are not free of weaknesses. Some have questionable private affairs, some are ruthless in personal lives, some are even known to have robbed —the rich and given to the poor (Robin Hood). People tolerate such weaknesses and traits of character in their heroes. But in no culture in history a true hero is known to have sold his country’s assets or secrets for personal gains.
AQKhan is accused of selling countires secrets and assets for personal gain. That’s the charge sheet Musharraf has brought against him. And AQKhan has never denied it. Instead he asked for a pardon, which was given.
Whether one is Musharraf’s supporter or his critic it is difficult to fault Musharraf on this one account.
Comparing AQK with India’s Abdul Kalam (not Azad) is not right. Abdul Kalam was a self-effacing man who kept a low profile, lived a simple life while carrying on his work, and never publicized or promoted himself. No one even knew his name inside or outside the country until just before he was nominated the president. On the other hand, AQK was all over the place giving statements to the press, encouraging journalists to write his biographies, and naming after him laboratories, schools, streets and towns. These are not the traits of true heroes.
Dr Shafiq’s interview (Urdu); Goto bbc.co.uk/urdu and link is on the left.
Just read some extracts from his book.I want to say tht he is the person who degraded A Q Khan.I mean a person who was a hero for us and by mush “he is a person by massive ego A Q Khan is a person tht dont let any one to be one step ahead of him… and all tht A Q Khan done was for money” I think this is very ridiculous remarks about a person who had made u an atomic power…In india Abdul kalam Azad was as A Q khan is for us and indians made him their president though he was a muslim too and we pakistanis have a custom to riducule the one who has done gud 4 us….
Oops. Last comment went to the wrong post. Moderator, please remove from here.
Now that you mention it, the divide is striking. One might have expected an inverted U-curve. But it is probably correct. We are on this and other things a divided society, there is no concentration in the middle, its at the edges. That is why our conversations are also edgy.
I dont think its about expats and those living in Pakistan either. They are equally divided. Those abroad just export the divisions with them.
PatExpat,
You are so right, how desperate and eager we are to get any positive Western press. But, at the same time, we give a damn to our own public opinion. Nevertheless, read today’s Ardeshir Cosasjee’s column in Dawn:
http://dawn.com/weekly/cowas/cowas.htm
[quote post="319"]So kudoos to him on this strategy there “mission accomplished�[/quote]
How desperate are we (US Pakistanis) for some positive press?